Folding table



L. CULOTTn FOLDING. TABLE Filed Oct. 17, 1954 Rigi.

s /4 j6l Mm Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding tables, and has for its primary object to pro- 'vide a novel, simple and inexpensive structure that may be readily and quickly collapsed and 5 folded into compact state, to reduce the space required for storing the same when not in use. A further object is to provide a foldable structure comprising two pairs of legs and a swingable top, each pair of legs being framed as a separable unit; one pair being normally stationary, while the other pair is connected for movements relatively to the top and the stationary pair, to permit the folding and unfolding of the table, and one end of the top being permanently hinged to the stationary pair of legs. A further object is to provide a lazy-tongs or like mechanism that hingedly and flexibly joins the opposing pairs of legs and effects the extending and contracting of the legs. And a further object is to provide novel means for locking the opposite end of the top to the movable pair of legs to prevent accidental collapsing of the table while the latter is in use.

I attain these objects by the means set forth in the detailed description which follows and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in

which- Fig. 1 is an end elevation looking at the lefthand end of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a similar view looking at the right hand end of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the table in operative position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the legs in their folded position; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the legs and associated parts in folded position.

In the drawing, 2 and 3 designate similar legs, that are arranged in pairs and framed as separable units, whose top ends are permanently connected and spaced by cross rails 2-3', while the bottom ends of the legs are tied together by crossbars 2a. The inner or facing sides of the legs are formed with longitudinal grooves or ways 2b-3b, in which guides a and b are slidably disposed. Between the guides of each pair of legs are disposed horizontal cross members 4 whose ends are formed with reduced gudgeons 4' that loosely engage sockets 4a of the guides to permit rocking of said members to a slight extent, when the guides are moved upwardly and downwardly in the ways 2li-3b. The top 5 may be a plane rectangle in plan, having attached aprons 5-5a, that depend from near the two longer edges of the top, and a cross apron 5b that spans the gap between the left ends of the aprons 5 and 5a. This cross apron is preferablysplit longitudinally to provide sections 5c--5d, which are respectively made rigid to the top 5 and to cross rail 2. The inner face of this split apron is formed with a rightangle groove 5e, in which are disposed two hinges 5 5f that connect top 5 and legs 2 and enable the top to be swung downwardly parallel to the folded legs 2 and 3 when the table is folded, as best seen in Fig. 5. The right end of the top 5 is provided with an apron t, which is swingably connected to-10 the underside of the table top by hinges 6', the latter being supported by a flat cross strip 6a that is preferably rigid to the top 5. The hinged apron 6 preferably overlaps the rig t ends of aprons 5 and 5a, as shown in Fig. 2, and carries locking 15 means comprising a hand-kneb l, a latch l', and a round header bolt or stud la which is carried by the rail 3 and is engageable by said latch when the knob is rotated, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In Figs. 2 and 5 is shown a cross bar S disposed 20. parallel to the swingable part 6, and which is preferably made rigid to the strip 6a. The bar is preferably shorter than the parts 5b and 6, as shown dotted in Fig. 2, so as to enter freely between the legs 3 when the table is folded. The 25 bottom edges of the bar 8 and part E are beveled to form an inverted groove 8 that receives an angular tongue 3a formed on the top edge of the rail 3', so that when the hasp l' is swung downwardly to the locking position, shown in dotted 30 lines in Fig. 2, and by full lines in Fig. 3, the top of the table may be suitably positioned and positively held in place as'long as the table is extended for use, as shown in Fig. 3. The legs 2 and 3 are flexibly connected between their ends by a lazy- 35 tongs, indicated generally at A. The tongs cornprise similar pairs of levers 9-9 and 9ct-9b, which are joined end to end by hinges 9c-9d. The levers of the respective pairs cross each other between their ends and are pivotally connected by 40 pins 9e, and slots 9j shown in Fig. 3. This produces a compound action that effects the proper expanding and contracting of the legs 2 and 3. The outer ends of levers 9 9 are respectively and swingably connected to the legs 2 and 3 by hinges 45 I0. The corresponding ends of levers ila-9b are rigidly connected to the cross members 4, whose opposite ends are pivoted to the guides a-b, as explained. The compound action of the levers of the tongs permits the legs 3 to be moved towards 50 and away from the legs 2 by a relatively short reciprocable travel of the guides a-b. When the legs 2 and 3 are brought into juxtaposition, as shown in Fig. 4, the levers of the tongs assume a nearly parallel position side by side within the 55 ingly spaced, the facing sides of each pair of legs planes of the legs 'of the respective pairs, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

ToV collapse the table, the operator simply rotates the latch 1 awayffrom the stud 1a, then lifts the free end of the top 5 sumciently to disengage the tongue 3a from groove 8. This frees the legs 3 and the latter may then be pushed towards the legs 2, as shown in Fig. 4.

By the peculiar construction herein shown, the legs 2 and 3 are always held substantially parallel, thereby obviating all dangerous strains, and by the provision of the tongue and groove 3a--8, and the simple and effective locking means, the

l. A folding table, comprising four legs arranged in pairs movable towards and from each other, each pairlbeing framed and correspondbeing formed with longitudinal ways, guides slidi able in the ways, cross-members pivoted to the hinged at one end to one pair of legs adapted to be folded parallel to the legs, the opposite end of the top being free and adapted to rest upon the tops of the second pair of legs, and means to lock the free end of the top tosaid second pair of legs.

2. A foldingv table comprising four legs armeans-carried by the top and the uppermost cross Y `rail of said second pair of legs, the facing sides of each pair of legs being formed with coinciding ways, guides slidable in said ways, rockable cross members connecting'and moving the guides, extensible meansrcomprising'a lazy-tongs hinged to the top ends of both pairs of legs and-being rigidly connected to said cross members and adapted ranged in pairs, each pair being permanently,

framed and spaced by cross rails, the facing sides of each pair being formed with coinciding ways, guides slidable in said ways, cross members pivoted to the guides, a separable top hinged at one end to the upper end of one pair of legs, the opposite end of the top being normally free, tongueand-groove means toreifect the positioning of the free end of the top relatively to the seccnd pair of legs, lazy-tongs interposed between the two pairs of legs and connected, respectively, with the top rails and the cross members Yof said pairs and adapted to hold the pairs parallel and to permit them to move towards and from each other, and latching means to prevent accidental collapsing of the extended table.

4. A folding table including two parallel pairs of'upright legs, one pair being bodily movable from spaced table supporting position towards and into abutting relation with the Vother pair,

means for connecting said pairs of legs and for guiding same during said relative movements, said means being connected to said pairs of legs in such manner that when the latter are in folded position the said means lies within the planes of the legs, a top hinged at one end to one pair of legs for folding parallel to the latter and having its opposite end free and adapted to be supported Vupon the tops of the other pair of legs, and means to lock the free end of the top to the said other pair of legs.

`LOUIS CULO'III. 

